STREETSCAPE: MURALS ALONG THE COAST

On a quest to visit our Main Streets of Coastal Mississippi, I found various cheerful, colorful, engaging murals that sparked my curiosity. Appearing like a billboard of artistry, laden with messages of love and hope, paralleled with a movement for advertisement of creativity, these murals are sure to capture the public.

Turns out there are various historic and newer buildings with blank facades that have been transformed into spectacular art pieces. Thankfully, the property owners were willing to have these murals added to their buildings. Some of the murals were temporary, meaning, on a surface that would not compromise the integrity of the building with drilling or destroying the brick or wooden structure.

Here along the Mississippi Gulf Coast, there are various hybrids of themed artwork from coastal, street art, wood carvings, pop art, all coming together in a very dynamic and interesting way.

It began on a drive into downtown Bay St. Louis. I saw the beautiful heart piece along the side of a chimney at 211 Main Street. Then down the way to The Shops of Century Hall was a beautiful coastal mermaid rendering by Holly Garvin. This reminded me of the vibrancy of the 100 Men Hall mural that was created by Wendo and JoLean through a grant with the Mississippi Gulf Coast National Heritage Area program. As I left the beautiful, quaint town, I stopped off at the infamous Mockingbird Café where I found “All Are Welcome Here,” by Ann Madden

If you’re traveling to downtown Biloxi, you will find a gorgeous strip of the Vieux Marche with freestanding art and murals alike. If art is what you are after, you will find our state flower adorning the side of the Gallery 782 building. Howard Avenue provides a multitude of artistry murals by Mr. Cali Rob, a favorite and local muralist. He has “Gulf Coast Strong” and the “Greetings from Biloxi” postcard mural that welcomes you to the revival of downtown. Further to the west along Howard Avenue, artist Niko provides a glimpse of the beautifully, but hauntingly magical, “The Casquette Girls.”

Crooked Feather welcomes you to Ocean Springs from Biloxi with his handsomely carved stare. And while in Ocean Springs, you could visit the “Art in the Open Installation: Monarch” while you take in a stroll through the Charnley Norwood House at 509 East Beach.

If murals aren’t your thing, there are freestanding sculptures scattered about the Mississippi Gulf Coast. The heartfelt “Katrina Memorial” can be found at 133 Main Street in Biloxi and the Marshall Jesus Sculpture is located at 438 Silver Ridge in Gulfport.

Recently, Ocean Springs found itself without a mascot. Once more, the beloved rooster that roamed their downtown tragically died this past April. Carl 2.0 will forever live on in the hearts of their community and the visitors alike in part to a mural that artist, Mr. Cali Rob, donated to the city.

When asked about the significance of the painting, he said, “I wanted to give something back to Ocean Springs after losing Carl. If nothing else, I hope it reminds everyone to be kind and gentle, but mostly to love.”

East Jackson County serves the art community with sculptures and art murals, respectively. In Pascagoula, a look back at the enchanted landscapes and historic landmarks provides a depiction by muralist Mary Bet Evans. Additionally, Moss Point, also known as the River City, has an abundance of art murals on the books. The mural on Main Street which features a River City waterways rendition. Both the Pascagoula River Audubon Center and the Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (NERR) feature “Art in the Open Installation: Flower, Pascagoula Audubon and Pine Tree Design at Grand Bay NERR.”

BAY ST. LOUIS

History of Old Town Bay St Louis

John McDonald, Artist

Back of Hancock Bank Building, Beach & Main St.

Ruth's Roots Community Garden

Various Artist

130 Court Street

Fleurty Girl Boutique

Suzie Brown, Artist 216 Main St.

All Are Welcome Here

Ann Madden, Artist

110 South Second St.

Love International

Andrew Switzer, Artist

200 Main St.

Love Chimney

Marian Glasser, Artist 211 Main St.

Coca Cola Mural

Unknown Artist 220 Main St.

BILOXI

Magnolia's Unknown Artist

769 Jackson St.

Monarch Butterfly

Tricia McAlvain, Artist

770 Water St. (parking lot)

George Ohr Mural

Zach DePolo, Artist

Mary Mahoney's, 138 Rue Magnolia

Mardi Gras Queen's Gown

Katherine Rushton, Artist

Mardi Gras Museum, 792A Howard Ave.

Love is Love

MrCaliRob, Artist 906 Division St.

The Casquette Girls Niko, Artist 871 Howard Ave.

Adventure Wave

MrCaliRob, Artist Adventures Pub 132 Lameuse St.

Inez Thomas Café-Wade Ins Mural

Demetrius Gayden, Artist Corner of Main & Division St.

Love Is All We Knead

MrCaliRob. Artist 280 Oak St.

GULFPORT

Chandeleur Island Brewing Co.

Tricia McAlvain, Artist 2711 14th St.

Aquarium

Robert Waldrop, Artist 2401 14th St.

Fishbone Alley

Various Artist 1609 14th St.

Greetings from Gulfport

Jerika Broussard

15th St.

Lighthouse Magnolia

Unknown Artist 2415 14t St.

Frida Kahlo

Cody Bryan Richardson, Artist Corner of 21st and 25th Ave.

MOSS POINT

Greetings from Moss Point River Prince, Artist Masonic Lodge, Corner of Main St.

Welcome to the River City

Unknown Artist Main St.

OCEAN SPRINGS

Carl 2.0 Rooster

MrCaliRob, Artist Wild Flier, 1018 Government St.

Turquoise Eagle

MrCaliRob, Artist Bienville Blvd.

Sculpture of Crooked Feather

Thomas King, Artist

Ocean Springs Entrance Bienville Blvd.

PASCAGOULA

Celebrations of the Coast

Alan Watson, Artist City Hall, Rear Entrance

Block Art

Pascagoula High School Students

Delmas Ave.

Legend of Singing River

Various Artists

Pascagoula Public Library